Poor Lucas.
He’s the classic middle child. Turns out, he just needed Cooper to come in to make it his official position instead of just his state of mind.
Middle children often feel looked over, and, in this case, it’s true.
I missed Lucas’s adoption anniversary.
Sorry, Lucas.
Last month, on March 28, we should have celebrated his fifth adoption anniversary! My, how time flies! I clearly remember picking him up from the shelter… well, trying to pick him up. He would. not. get in the car. Poor guy was so scared. At the time, we had no idea the depth of his fear. But even if we had known, even if we had a crystal ball that showed us all the cowering and aggressing and crying and barfing and drooling we’d face, we still would have shoe-horned him into the backseat to take him home that day.
Because helping Lucas overcome his fears has expanded our hearts more than we could have dreamed that day we first picked him up. We’ve cultivated patience. We’ve developed an intense well of compassion. And, each time Lucas overcomes something else, we’ve mastered the art of celebrating victories!
Now, I’ve gotten into the habit of saying we’re not “there” with him or that there’s a lot more to still work on. The reality is that every single day is work. Just the other day he flipped out at a dog on the other side of the street. While it’s disheartening when we have a setback, it’s also another huge lesson for me: There isn’t really a “there” to get to.
Even though Lucas gets overlooked sometimes – because of Emmett’s larger-than-life personality or Cooper’s need for constant supervision – I’m confident he’s happy with his place in our family. He is a sweet, goofy, gentle giant, and I’m so grateful that he came into our lives five years and one month ago.
I love you, Lucas!
Happy belated adoption day, Lucas! And Cady doesn’t think there is anything that still needs work. She thinks he is just perfect the way he is. And I agree!
Awwww…..Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy! Lucas!
I remember thinking, “why the heck won’t this dog just get in the car??” He’s so wonderful and I can’t believe it’s already been that long…
Happy belated adoption day, Lucas! Maggie and John did an amazing job helping you to become the sweetheart that you are. You are so loved.
Happy adoption day! I am so happy you shoved Lucas into that car as well, even if it meant five years of hard work. I like to think it’s the more difficult dogs that are the most life-changing. It sounds like Lucas has taught you so much. He fits right in with your crew.
Oddly enough, my fearless nutjob of a dog also did not want to get into our car at the shelter, not even for food. Clearly you can just never tell!
I think you are perfect too Lukey. Happy Anniversary to you all
I’ve rescued close to 100ish dogs and kept 9 permanently, tho not, at first, voluntarily. All but 3 or 4 didn’t get in the car, politely or thankfully. When I took home the one dog I actually chose, a deerhound, he sat in the front, with me, in the van, and I passed him lovely small meaty bones, which he took with diffident politeness, tho as each piece finished, I’d catch him checking out the bag. I gave him a back massage before he got in. My theory is, if a strange human gives a massage, gives you yummy things and pats you at the lights, as a dog, a day away from D Day, on death row, you have to think your day is at least more interesting, if not actually pretty good. Dickie always resembled a tall, older lady who lunched. His chain collar ALWAYS reminded me of pearls and Dickie often had a flutey, Julia Childs way about him. A Lady Who Lunched, who’s fallen into a bush and been dragged out backwards, by a passing fireman… The difficult ones are always the ones you remember the most.
My sister brought home a dog, Katie Lewis, who was so traumatized by being returned to the Humane Society four times that she was not able to walk from the car to the house, nor indeed, one carried in, from the house to the yard. They set up a big bed area for her in the kitchen as it was the most used room in the house and carried her to the yard when necessary. She fully recovered and turned out to be the best dog ever – matriarch still of the dogs she lived with, although she has been gone a few years. Happy adoption day, lucas.
Y’know, I bet Lucas didn’t mind a bit. 🙂